It’s time to make flexibility training work for you, no matter how stiff you may feel. Stretching is for every body, you just have to make some space to move.
Close your eyes, and imagine someone flexible. Now, let me guess… did you imagine a circus performer, someone in a very intense yoga pose, or maybe a dancer in a split? If so, don’t worry, I did too for a long time. A wild thought, but you could be flexible, right now, as you are. Wait, let me take another guess, you’re probably thinking…
“That’s not for me.”
“I’m not bendy.”
“I have too much muscle or joint pain.”
“I’m too old/ stiff/ big/ inflexible/ some other limiting belief”
This intimidation, sometimes stigma, we feel is totally normal, and I want to acknowledge that. Seeing bodies that are not hypermobile or elite athletes going through flexibility training isn’t something we normally see. But here’s the kicker, flexibility really is for every body.
What Flexibility Actually Is (and Isn’t)
First off, let’s break down what flexibility is from just a dictionary POV: the ability to move your muscles and joints through a full range of motion. This isn’t to say you should be able to do back flips and become a pretzel – flexibility doesn’t apply to only those who are hypermobile, people in contortion or circus performances, or even the people you see on social media doing intense yoga poses. Being flexible means to reach, bend, twist without any tightness or restriction, to move with ease in everyday life without worrying about injuring ourselves.
Everyday Benefits of Flexibility Training
Whether it’s reaching the top shelf for a can of beans, getting up off the ground after sitting in a park with friends, or just bending down to tie your shoes (or picking up the kid’s toys… again), flexibility plays a part in everything we do. We use flexibility every day, even for the mundane, and working on improving and maintaining it has a long list of benefits:
- Increased blood flow and circulation
- Lessens the chance of risk of injury
- Reduced pain and inflammation
- Stress-relieving
- Increased range of motion in the joints
- Improves balance and stability
- Posture support
- and much, much more
So yeah, flexibility is needed for our everyday lives, but it’s also for the fun hobbies and activities too like gardening, dancing, sewing, hiking, skating and swimming.
Why Flexibility Training is Truly Beginner-Friendly
Now, before that voice of “well I’m just not flexible” comes back in, let me squash it. You don’t need to be flexible to start flexibility training. You don’t have to start off doing headstands, or even lunges – flexibility training is adaptable, scalable, and modifiable, you can do movements standing, seated at your desk, in bed, in small spaces, etc. Besides, anything counts; you can do small movement snacks of just one or two movements instead of doing a 90-minute class. You don’t need to come out of the gate fast and strong, you can start at a pace that feels good for you, even if it feels small to you.
It Can Feel Really Good
Flexibility training is just so great for you (just look at the benefits list above), and even if it’s small movement snacks, stretching can help you reduce pain, ease tension, and support nervous system regulation — goodbye stress! The science backs it up, working on your flexibility has proven to be grounding, calming, and can be accessible on days where you want to give a bit more focus to your mental health. Even on days that feel like total throwaways, just doing a couple of shoulder circles or cat cows can release brewing tension in the body.
When it comes to starting, start small! Just try one stretch or a short class, and tune into how your body feels before and after. If you’re a visual learner, you can always stretch with me in this 25-minute Standing and Seated YouTube video, or take some time to read up on my free e-book! This doesn’t mean you should be running out to buy the newest stretch attire on the market, but just start noticing what feels good in your body when you’re moving can be a great first step.
